Audeze LCD2C Great Expectations

This metal mesh restricts airflow and does indeed change the sound. Before it was just a circle of acoustically transparent foam with no rear damping. Now it is that circle of foam with the metal mesh. Which damps the driver more. Some Audeze's benefit from it, others sound more open without it.

I think they have changed the drivers to compensate, or the new earpads compensate for the change. But if you take them out, they will sound different. Possibly more bass, it depends on the model. Possibly more open sounding. Not necessarily by much though. Possibly more sluggish driver response and less apparent resolution.

Best probably to leave the metal mesh in place.

 

seems to have pumped up the lower lower end of things, not a lot but enough to hear it. I actually backed off of my Loki EQ a bit.

 

the Dekoni pads sound awful IMO. Buy the official leather pads from Audeze.

 

Thanks RD, billbishere!

 

So, just a quick update on the 2C shedding pleathers. I finally got the leather replacement headband and earpads.

The headband didn't have any instructions, nor did I find any on Audeze's site, but it was intuitive enough. It's much easier if you unscrew the retainers on top of the rods and slip out the yokes that hold the drivers to change the headband (and the earpads). Then unscrew the plate that holds the old band together. Reverse the process with the new leather band.

A nice upgrade, especially not having to pick black flecks off my head.

For the earpads, there were instructions to do this on Audeze's website, and it's pretty straight forward.

Good Surprise

What I wasn't expecting: the earpads were a significant sonic change to the LCD2C that I got from several years ago. It could be because the material is now leather, but I suspect that it's because the pads (leather or pleather) are no longer the memory foam type. @rhythmdevils has pointed this out here, and I concur with him that the treble opened up and provided a more "open" soundstage to the 2C. I'm also hearing a bit leaner but tighter bass, but I might be imagining this (based on my experience of the old memory foam pleathers). Or it could just be leathers vs pleathers--I don't know.

Anyway, I think it's an improvement, and those who still have the old version of the 2C should consider getting new pads.